a blur of babies, and Tommy and Camille are engaged!

 

The biggest news out of October was that our son Tommy and Camille got engaged.  Yay!  We are so happy with this news - it just makes me smile!  They make a great and easy-going couple.  Tommy has started his job in San Francisco and they are thankful for the new quick and cheap direct flight from SFO to Provo, where Camille is in her senior year of college.  Lovebirds!   They will get married in May. 

We saw them a couple weeks ago.  We all convened in Boston for the weekend and drove up to a wedding (the daughter of dear friends, and she's one of Tommy's best friends) in New Hampshire together.   We saw so many great old friends.  Everyone, young and old, danced and danced, and it just felt like a joyful break-out from the Covid years.  It was so wonderful, just what we needed.  

Then, David flew directly to Japan for 10 days, and I flew home to North Carolina and back to this crew!

 

On Monday, Noelle came over to help with trick-or-treating.  It all started really early and the atmosphere on their street was so festive.  Afterwards, finally a chance for a family photo: 

David and I loved tending the babies while watching the parade of cuteness!  Joe, and then Noelle, passed out candy, while Kaela walked with Charlotte.  

The fall weather has been just glorious here and it's making us feel better about living in North Carolina.  Kaela loves fall and loves the "Fall Festival" quilt (Jan Patek pattern).  I love seeing her use it! 

I've been spending 10, often 11 or 12, hours at Kaela's every day.  She just needs so much help.  My sisters-in-law are helping some, as well as Noelle, and my niece Alyssa.  The church ladies have set up a "hold the babies" signup, now that Joe has gone back to work.   

I did take the morning "off" this morning.  I organized this-and-that in the townhouse, just puttered really, which felt great, then took a walk solo in the sunshine.  This is our street looking back towards our place from the mailboxes.

One of the things I love about this little neighborhood of townhomes, is that there are stairs leading up and in to a small "meditation garden" behind our ring of townhomes - nothing spectacular, but really lovely and sort of hidden.   I feel so grateful to live in a walkable neighborhood.  Now I just need to re-establish the actual habit of walking.   

Now I'm writing this blog post, and it's suddenly afternoon.  I can't even believe it.   After lunch with David I'm heading for a Walmart pick-up and then back over to Kaela's.  My sister-in-law Janette is there now, bless her.  My other sister-in-law Dottie drives two hours each way to come help sometimes - bless her too!  

Eleanor on the left, Amelia on the right.  Kaela paints their toenails - Amelia frosty white, Eleanor bright pink - and yes we check their toenails often!  

No quilting going on over here yet, but I did organize my quilting space in the bonus room:  

I keep my books in the adjacent hallway with all our other books, and I use a guest room closet for the other machines, extras, etc.  I de-stashed and gave my sister in law Dottie a bunch of fabric.  THAT felt great.   I have put child-safe "locks" on several drawers.  

The other half of the bonus room is for KIDS young and old! 

Oh! 

Yesterday morning on the way to Kaela's I early-voted at a nearby community center.    

PLEASE VOTE!  

xo

Cynthia